Compartmentalized refrigerator



Filed Oct. 26, 1956 IN VEN TOR. JOHN P. MAL/A A7 TORNEX subdivided into at least two compartments,

2,945,733 7 COMPARTMENTALIZED REFRIGERATOR John P. Malia, New York, N.Y. (36 E. Division, Chicago 10, 111.

Filed on. 26, 1956, Ser. N0. 618,502

Claims. 01. 312-200 This invention relates to a mechanical refrigerator combination comprising a cooled box type of refrigerator subdivided vertically into three or more sections, at least one of said sections being provided with a cooling unit which will keep it at a temperature low enough for the storage of frozen foods.

The object of the invention is to provide within a single refrigerator at least three separate and distinct compartments fully enclosed, so that stored materials are readily accessible by the opening of one or two sections which are hinged to permit such opening.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for operating separate compartments of the refrigerator box at different temperatures.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly, is embodied in a plural compartment refrigerator having independent refrigerant means for separate parts of the said refrigerator, the unit being characterized by its having a door which serves as one compartment, anda body which is also hingedly one of'which may serve as a freezer unit.

The invention maybe better understood by referring to the drawings, in which: 1

Figure 1 is a front elevation partially in perspective, showing such refrigerator unit with typical subdivisions;

Figure 2 is a view of the refrigerator with the several sections opened;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is a plan view showing an alternative hinging arrangement. In the form of construction which is shown in the drawing, the box is subdivided and arranged with cooling coils so that one section of the box may be maintained at a conventional refrigerating storage temperature and a second section of the box may be maintained at a very deep freezing or low temperature. Independent refrigerating units and cooling coils may be mounted in two separate sections in order to maintain each section at the de sired temperature. It is also to be understood that despite the fact the illustration is in terms of a mechanical compressor, sections may be refrigerated by means of common absorption type refrigerating units.

Referring now to Figure 1, represents a section of the refrigerator, which in this embodiment is the stationary section which is provided with internal compartment 11 carrying any usual arrangement of shelves. Section 12 is hinged to section 10 and it, too, carries an internal arrangement of shelves 13.

Section 14, which is an outside section, is hinged to section 12 and is provided with an internal arrangement a of shelves, as well as the handle 16. Mechanically the three sectionsll), 12 and 14 are preferably substantially United States Patent of equal depth, so that they 2 each constitute approximately one-third of the refrigerator capacity.

Mounted in the base 'of'section 10 is the compressor unit 20which has cooling coils arranged around the sides of the cooling space 11. Similarly, section 12 carries compressor unit 22which has-its separatewse't of cooling coils arranged around'the refrigerator space. Commimi cation between sections 12 and 14 is permissible so that the two sections come to equilibrium at the same temperature level.

Since it is usually desirable to have a freezer section 10 in a refrigerator, and it is generally less used than the sections maintained at conventional refrigeration temperatures, inner door 24 is provided between sections 10 and 12 so that section 10 may be maintained at a substantially lower temperature than the rest of the box. The inner door need be no more than a frame carrying a plastic sheet, or it may preferably be a self sustaining sheet of clear plastic, about /s"-%" thick, such as Lucite.

The view shown in Figure 2 illustrates the hinging of sections so that the sections 12 and 14 of the refrigerator may be readily swung out as a unit to provide access to the rear freezing compartment.

In Figure 3 an alternative method of hinging is shown, and here it will be apparent that section 12 is hinged to section. 10 at 30 and that section 14 is hinged to section 12 at 31. In this case the handle 32 functions as a conventional handle for opening section 1 4 and a side handle 33 functions to unlatch and open section 12. It is apparent that magnetic latches and associated handles may be used throughout, or in combination with mechanical latches.

In Figure 4 a variation of the subdivision of the refrigerator is shown wherein the compartmentalization of the refrigerator is in the form of section-s 40 and '41, in which instance 42 is reduced in size'to serve essentially as a door. Compartments 40 and 41 divide the refrigerator box substantially into two equal sections, in this instance the rear one "40 being a freezing compartment. The unit is provided with the handle 43 for opening the door 42, which in turn is hinged at 44 to the section 41. Handle 46 is provided for opening the refrigerator to give access to the compartment, and this is accomplished by connecting it to unlatch compartment 41, which in turn is hinged to 40 at 47.

Since the opening of more than' a conventional type door might be difficult for a user, it is to be understood that the entire model is preferably a floor based refrigerator, and that the separate sections rest on casters or rollers 50-51 which permit the weight of the unit to be borne by the floor. The rollers may be conventional casters or ball rollers in track guides.

Though the invention has been described with reference to only a limited number of embodiments, it is to be understood that variations thereof may be adopted without departing from its spirit or scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator unit comprising the combination of at least one section and at least two movable sections, arranged face-to-face to form a sandwich having a front section, at least one middle section, and a back section; at least one of said sections containing a refrigerating unit and being capable of quick freezing; at least one of said sections being open at its front and back faces; at least two of said sections each being closed on one face and open on one face, said two closed sections each respectively being hinged upon said open section front and back, at at least one side, for opening about their respective vertical axes, so that said three sections may be selectively each or in combinations of adjacent sections rotated to provide access to themselves and to adjacent sections.

2. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 1, in which at least one inner door separates adjacent sections.

3. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 1, in which I said back section' isstatioriary; andfsaid middleahd front sections are movable.

' 4. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 1, in which said middle section is stationary, and saidfrontand' back sections are movable.

, 5. A refrigerator in accordance with claim 1, in which said movable sections are oppositely hinged.

References Cited in the file of this patent 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS Elward Apr. 10, 1883 Allison Apr. 4, 1899 Seaman Mar. 1, 1904 Rudolph Jan. 6, 1925 Glasser Sept. 19, 1933 Mize Dec. 18, 1934 Sekyra Nov. 8, 1938 Flamn Sept. 3, 1940 Levy Oct. 25, 1955 Lewis July 3, 1956 

